Closure for receptacles



June 12, 1928.

G. S. BOWMAN CLOSURE FOR RECEPTACLES Filed Feb. 21, 1927 INVENTOR. Geage 5. jaw/mayo,

A TTORNE Y.

Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,672,877 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. BOWMAN, 0! JAMES, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-THIRD TO BAIUEL w.

LINTHICUM, 01: JAMES, MARYLAND.

CLOSURE FOB BECEPTACLES.

Application filed February 21, 1927. Serial No. 170,028.

This invention relates to closures for receptacles of that kind in which a cap or other similar cover member has a screw-threaded engagement with the receptacle.

Where the receptacle and closure member are made of sheet metal, it frequently happens, in the course of transit or handling, that bending or mashing of the closure or the part of the receptacle to which it is attachedoccurs, rendering it impossible to unscrew the closure.

One object of my invention is to provide a construction which, in such event, will permit of the ready and convenient release and removal of the closure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction which gives greater strength and resistance to distortion to the closure, and also to the part of the receptacle to which the closure is attached, and which, after release of the closure, if not irrepara ibly damaged, will permit of its further and continued use as a slip cover.

Still anther object of the invention is to provide a receptacle and closure having mating spiral grooves and a spiral locking member seated in said grooves and forming a thread on which the closure may travel in the operations of applying and removing the same, which locking member is Withdrawable to effect a disengagement of any bound points of the closure and receptacle and release th closure for removal.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a construction of the grooved receptacle and closure and of the binder member whereby, in the event of the closure becoming bound, a sharp blow or pull upon an exposed and of the binder member will result in the closure being freed so that it may be removed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a closure of combined screw arid slip type whereby a tight sealing of the receptacle may be effected.

The invention consists of'the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being bad to the ac companying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a portion of a receptacle and closure, showing one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section of the same.

Figure 3 is a view of the closure receiving portion of the receptacle as it appears with the closure removed.

Figure 4 is a view of the binder-thread member as employed in the construction shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Figures 5, b, 7 and 8 are views similar Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, showing another form of the invention.

Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 are views similar to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, and Figures 5 to 8, inclusive, showing still another form of the invention. 4

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawing, 1 designates a receptacle having an open end portion 2 defining its mouth 3, and 4 is a closure member of cap or other suitable form adapted to fit upon the portion 2 so as to seal the mouth or opening 3. In prac tice, the receptacle and closure are made of sheet metal of suitable gage or thickness, and of such gage or thickness as to adapt the part 2 and closure member 4 to have a certain degree of yielding or spring action, for a purpose hereinafter explained. The receptacle 1, including the portion 2, may be cylindrical and .of like diameter throughout or the portion 1 may be in the shape of a body of cylindrical or other form, and the portion 2 in the form of a neck of cylindrical form, provided such neck portion is of suflicient length to permit of the use of tools for a cap releasing action, as hereinafter described. The closure member 4 may be in the form of a cap or of any other suitable form commonly employed where the closure member fits over upon and surrounds the part of the receptacle having the opening or mouth portion to be closed.

As shown, the part 2 of the receptacle 1 on which the cap or closure member 4 is designed to fit is provided with an external spiral groove 5. At its upper end this groove intersects a transverse notch 6 formed 1n the rim edge of said portion 2, and at' its lower end the groove intersects a widened or tapering recess 7. The cap 4, which is adapted to closel fit the neck, is formed with an interna spiral groove 8. This groove 8 extends from top to bottom of the cap 4-. A s iral binder member 9 is carried by the nee 2 and seated in the groove 5 thereof. This spiral binder member consists of a spiral rod or wire, of. any desired crosssectional shape, and of a diameter to project beyond the groove 5 and seat in and to be engaged by the groove 8 of the cap 4, so that said binder rod or wire will form a looking connection between the neck and cap -to hold the latter from displacement, and a working thread between the receptacle part 2 and cap on which the grooved part of the cap may travel upward and downward on the part .2 in the cap applying and removing movements. The binder rod or wire, in other words, provides upon the part 2 a spiral thread on which the cap may be revolved for endwise travel in the usual manner. At its upper end the rod or wire 9 is provided with an an ularly bent finger or retaining portion 10 w iich engages the notch 6 and is turned down on the inner side of the part 2, thus releasably locking the upper end of the wire to the part 2 against rotary or longitudinal displacement. At its lower end the wire is provided with an angularly bent locking and gripping lug or portion 11 which seats within the recess 7 and releasably locks the lower end of the wire on the neck against displacement. This lug is outwardly flared or otherwise enlarged so that it may be readily engaged by the blade of a screw driver or like tool or gripped between the claws of a claw-hammer, pair of pincers or similar tool. As shown, the enlarged extremity of the lug 11 terminates above the base of the recess 7 so as to leave a niche 12, in which a screw-driver or the point of a claw of a claw-hammer may be introduced to engage the edge of the lug 11 and pulled outward at an angle from the neck. The lug 11 will then be in position to be gripped by the claws of a claw-hammer, the jaws of a pair of pincers, or other suitable manipulating tool, or to serve as a driving head to' receive blows from a hammer or like tool,so that the wire 9 may be manipulated for a cap loosening or releasing action.

In practice, the binder 9 is made of comparatively stifi', resilient or spring-like material, soft enough to prevent its lug or end portion 11 being bent without snapping or unduly great-resistance, but stiff enough to adapt the binder, when placed under stress or tension, to diametrically contract the part 2, or expand the closure 4, or to simulta neously effect both for a closure releasing action. As stated, the binder may be made of any cross-sectional contour suitable for the purpose, and, while the term rod or wire is used, it is to be understood that I mean a spirally shaped rod-like or wire-like element of any suitable formation to secure its workin action described. In the han dling or shipment or" sealed receptacles of this general character made of metal, the part 2 or the art 4, or both, are liable to be bent or mas ed so as to revent the menu her 4 from being remove when desired.

My improved construction provides a con: struction whereby, under such condition, a ready release of the member 4 for removal may be effected. In carrying out this releasing action, the part 11 is first engaged by means of a suitable tool inserted into the niche 12 and bent outward from the part 2 so that it may be gripped between the claws of a claw-hammer, jaws of a pair of pincers or a like tool. If, then, the closure is not bound too tightly, a releasing action may be effected by drawing or pressure forcing the lug 11 downward and outward, whereby the flange of the cap will be distended and the binder member will be put under stress or strain, as a result of which it will bend or deflect back to original position the mashed or distorted metal of the portion 2 or closure 4 or diametrically contract the former and diametrically expand the latter so that the cap will be released and may then be removed. Where the releasing action can not be effected in this way, or if preferred, the lug or end ll of the binder spiral may be employed as a driving head which, upon be ing struck one or more sharp blows by a hammer or like tool, will transmit a driving pressure causing expanding and contracting motions of the spring binder, as a result of which the misshapen portions of the parts 2 and 4 will be strai htened out or such parts relatively spread, tlius releasing the cap so that it can be removed.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig ures 5 to 8, inclusive, the construction is substantially the same as that disclosed in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, except that the binder wire is interlocked with the cap so as to form a thread upon the cap to travel in the groove of the part 2. As shown the part 2 18 provided with a oove 5 which is a plain groove devoid of t e notch 6 and recess 7, while the ca 4 is provided with a groove 8 similar in :11 respects to the groove 8 except that is communicates at its lower end with a notch or recess 7 formed in the lower end of the cap. The binder wire 9 is here seated in the groove of the cap and is adapted to travel inthe groove of the part 2, and said wire is provided at its lower end with an angularly bent lug portion 11' which engages with the notch 7 and is turned upward against the outer side of the flange of the cap, thus releasably interlocking the wire with the cap. This lug 11' is upset or outwardly flared or otherwise enlarged like the lug 11 for a similar purpose. The construction is thus such that the wire normally forms a part ofthe cap, but, in the event that the cap becomes bound on the receptacle the part 11' may be bent outward and gripped for an outward-and-downward pull or force pressure cap releasing action or for a ham mer-blow cap releasing action. After the cap is released it may, if not mutilated, be

used as a slip cap closure for the receptacle.

In the construction shown in Figures 9 to 12, inclusive, the part 2 is provided with a spiral groove 5 which terminates at its upper end in a recess 5 located a substantial distance below the upper marginal edge of said part 2, and the cap 4 is provided with a spiral groove 8" which terminates at its upper end some. distance below the crown wall of the cap. The spiral binder wire 9 in this construction is seated and held by compression in the groove 5*, so as to form a thread upon the part 2 adapted to be engaged by the grooved part of the cap, said wire 9 havin r a bent upper retaining end 11 engaging t 1e recess 5 and normally holding it from rotation and having an angularly bent and offset or flared gripping lower end or lug 11 lying snugly against the neck and projecting below the rim edge of the cap when the latter is applied. as shown in Figure 9. By this construction thelug 11 of the spiral binder wire may be bent outward and manipulated for arelease of the cap as hereinbefore set forth. An advantage incident to this construction is that the portions of the part. 2 and cap above their grooves are devoid of grooved surfaces and may therefore have a very snug fit, giving the effect of a screw cap as well as a slip cap closure for the receptacle, enabling a very tight sealing of the mouth of the receptacle to be secured.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing, the construction and mode of use of my improved closure for receptacles will be readily understood and it will be seen that the invention provides a type of closure which is so connected by a spiral member to the receptacle that the spiral member forms a working thread, while at the same time providing a releasing agent. so that, in the event of the binding of the closure, because of distortion of either the receptacle or the closure, or both, separation of the cap from the receptacle may be eitected to release it for removal. My inventionthus provides a means whereby the closure of the receptacle, when bound against easy release in the usual manner, may be freed. My invention also provides a closure which, after release, may be continuously used unless irreparably distortedor damaged. iVith the type of construction in Figures 9 to 12, inclusive, a very easily released type of cap is disclosed which will also give a secure seal, making its suitable for use on receptacles which may be constantly closed in a tight manner to prevent access of air or to prevent the escape of volatile fluids. The grooves in the receptacle and cap and the binder spiral may, of course, be of any suit able cross sectional shape.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim 1. The combination of a receptacle, and a closure therefor, said receptacle and closure being provided with matin spiral grooves, of a binder member seate' in one of said grooves and coacting with the other groove to form a threaded connection between the closure and receptacle.

2. The combination of a receptacle, and a closure therefor, said receptacle and closure being provided with mating spiral grooves, and one of said parts having a notch intersecting its groove, and a spiral binder member seated in the groove of the part provided with the notch and having a retaining portion engaging the notch, said member coacting-with the groove of the other part to form a threaded connection between the closure and receptacle.

3. A receptacle, a closure therefor, said receptacle and closure having mating spiral grooves, and a binder spiral in retaining engagementwith one of said parts and seated in the groove thereof and forming a thread engagingthe groove in the other part, said binder spiral having an externally projecting portion for a closure releasing action.

4. A receptacle having a spiral groove, a closure member having a similar spiral groove, and a binder spiral retainedly held in one of said grooves and adapted for engagement with the other groove and forming a thread between the receptacle and closure member, said binder spiral having an externally projecting end operable for a closure releasing action, said end being enlarged at its extremity.

5. A receptacle having an external spiral groove, a closure therefor having an internal spiral groove, and a relatively stiff and resilient rod or wire-like binder member engaging one of said grooves and coacting with the other groove to form a thread connection between the receptacle and closure, said binder having an outwardly projecting portion operative for a closure releasing action in the event of such closure becoming bound on the receptacle.

6. A receptacle having a cylindrical mouth portion provided with a spiral groove, a closure to fit upon said mouth por- GEORGE S. BOWMAN. 

